Apparatus for macerating sugar-cane.



W. A. RAMSAY.

APPARATUS FOR MACERATING SUGAR CANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5,1914.

Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I W. A. RAMSAY.

APPARATUS FOR MACERATING sue/m CANE.

APPLHIATWN FILED kPR. 6.1914.

mm m

:xii W W. A. RAMSAY.

APPARATUS FOR MACERATING SUGAR CANE APPLICATION FILED APR.6,1914.

Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 MZZeLSQSeS 0%rneg,

W. A. RAMSAY.

APPARATUS FOR MACERATING SUGAR CANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR 6|19l4. 1,191,32 Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W A RAMSAY. APPARAHJS ma NACERATUJG SUGAR CANE. APXJCAHGN' FILED APR 6, $914.

1 ,1 9 1 26 Patented July 18, 191i}.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5,

gifl gvmmq "UNITED STATES PATENT @FFfllilli WILLIAM ARTHUR RAMSAY, OF HONOLULU, TERRITQRY O Hfliill APPARATUS FOR MACERATING SUGAIVCAZME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 6, 1914. Serial No. 830,061?

briefly stated, are to provide for a more thorough maceration ol' the cane and with a smaller amount of dilution liquid than is possible with the methods and machines ordinarily employed; to improve the feed of the hagasse as it passes from one crushing or extracting mill to the mill next' in order in the series; and to provide a construrlion for the purpose stated which shall be readily applirahle. to existing mills and requires no departure from accepted standards of mill construction. The great advantage which results from these objects is that of economy, since a material saving;' is etl'ected in the operation of evaporatimg the sugar hearing liquid extracted by the mills. the number of mills required is reduced. the crushed cane or hagassc is uniformly treated throughout the series and is thoroughly acted on by each mill, and the feeding of the hagassc through the series of mills is n'iaterially simplified and improved.

It is customary to spray the cane or hagassr as it leaves the mill with water, which takes up a percentage of the sugar and is subsequently treated by evaporation for the purpose of concentrating; the sugar. lt is important to use as little avater aspossible for the purposes in view, owing to the expense involved in the evaporation process. The bagasse, as it leaves the mill, is exposed to the atmosphere and the water used to take up the sugar is simply sprayed upon the )assing stream of material. \Vhen the liagasse passes from the mill it expands, since, l eing exposed to atmosphere and relieved from mechanical pressure, its cells .becomelfillegl or substantially filled with air.

Inasmuch as the water eanuot tlmroughly permeate the air-filled cells of the 'agasse, the action of the water is largely sngzoriiclah and it follows that the amoun n? which is actually taken up by the vain resents a relatively small prreenl': amount oi sugar which tlw same of water could lll'IS-llll. were it possihl for it to llli')['()lljlil permeate tin vxllkiizli "lf' lef ture ol the ha 2 ln prrnil l F iii) ordinary method ol llil'll illlzlll. l'epflzlml and llltlIHH ll l illUil, rxi' e sne spray ng of the hagasse l rerpiirerl. I

One important feature of the :w-ei eni iii-- vcntion ronsisls zu continuing the e l of mechanical pressure upon llu, liar-ding i !l for stream of hagasse as it leav the i:

ing water under pressure into the r r eally compressed travelinj. stream i surli manner that the watertlan-ouehin ates the cellular structure oi th v ln this way the amoant v12 sugar rlmfl' dll is greatly increased. In laet. :i siilw-l smaller amount of water than a ro employed will allsorh a iiilljatt'illt hl' v i, amount of sugar, This feature oi th ::ivention may he elleeti ei'v cariiwf out it construction wherein water is a-'ln.-rl 2o only one side of" the trawling stream o? ha rasse. The lwst results hmve via taincd by admitting \v ter at op;

o'l the traveling mas-1, alioz'e we 4 ermean al oppositely direct min the r atiwly ro (lull il'ili'ii'uar ia-n 'ln prmlisin the sir-thin) ol marl-ration. eral rrnsliisxfg mills are arran wl in series and special mechanism is provi led to lizllldfer the bagasse from one mill to the mlll n xt in order in the series. It is usual to allow the hagasse. as it passes from the d marge end of a mill to drop from the diseharge rollerupon an apron eonveyer composed of steel slats or canvas belting ahieii said conveyer elevatss the liagasse and discharges it into the mouth of the suereeiiing: mill.

A second important featurenal' the present invention is directed to the transfer of the bagzasse from the will to a sueeeerllng mill, and involves the eliminatien ol', the usual mechani al lranslerrin s ag n: Sea and ihr utilization of the whole or a part of the .ing peer? of 5c l and d rsalzargc extra cling 0 a O L;

in tandem,

mechanic ,or n ion of the hagassc as it in th null and also to deliver into the passing stream of bagasse a volume of Water which, the air being substantially excluded from the cells of the bagasse, thoroughly permeates the same.

In the preferred embrxlinicnt of the invention, the maccrating scraper consists of a pair oi cooperative shoes, each constructed as just described and between which the hagasi ze passes as it issues from the mill.

The nicchanimil agency employed to cftect the transfe of the hagasse consists of a chute or conduit which in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is open only at its ends and used essentially in combination with a macerating scraper of the construction outlined. An important feature of said chute that for an initial llfilflfilli oi its length it is inclined upwardly to confo m to the upward angle of inclinatinn at which thcmagasse is discharged from the ordinary three-roll mill and for the re mainder of its length is inclined downwardly to facilitate ,the passage of the hagasae to the next succeeding mill. The chute as an entirety is of curved fol-:11 in order that the transmission from the upward to the downward direction of travel may be gradual and that the friction due to the annular direction of travel of the hagasse may be minimized and the load, against which the ejecting power of the mill works, may be relatively small. The b21;,t':ws i. as ii passes from the scraper, enters the chute or conduit and is propelled therethrough ii thc ejccting power of the top 4 'arge rollers of the mill. The chute mechanical pressure upon the an; in the cant-(ailment disclosed ntinl'w e 'icindoz ai tlusrcfrom. 1n the ha ass is prevented from havinc any substantial expansion and conse 'piciuly. is 'uu'lc readily and uniformly taken up by the will to which it is fed. Moreover, the wniinuatiiun ml the mechanical pressure upon thc sci-nun i'i' hagasrc, after the water has been projected thercinto. and throughout the period in which the bagasse is traveling to he succeeding mill. insures of the thorough sugar absorbing action of the water and E'I'iiItPi Hll T' promotes the purpose for which the water l:-. employed. The water incur;minted in the hagasse acts as a lubricant upon the walls of the chute or conduit, and iisw iir'ures that the ejecting power of this the to and discharge rollers of the mill shall e amply suflicient to propel the bagasse through said chute or conduit, with out any liability of the choking of the discharge mouth of the chute.

The maccrating scraper to which reference has been made may be employed by itself or in comliiination with the chute or conduit described, the latter arrangement hemgz preferred.

T he invention includes an ancillary feature the provision of means for automatically adjusting the portion of the shoe or the upper shoe of the scraper in order that said shoe may be held in constant relation to the floating top roll of the mill, regardless of the rising and falling action of said roll due to variations in the thickness of the stream of bagassc.

The chute or conduit referred to and employcd to effect the transfer of the bagasse to the succeeding will preferably includes a wall which may be adjusted to vary the dimensions of the internal space of said chute or conduit to accord with the normal stream capaeity of the mill or to meet other conditions of uni The invention also includes various minor and collateral fcaiurcs of construction, comhination. and arrangement of parts, which will be clearly pointed out as the description proceeds.

Apparatuscs embodying the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

l ure l. is a lougitiulinal sectional view of a. preferred i-imstruction wherein the scraper and the chute or conduit are employed in combination; Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a. detail fragmentary cross sectional view of the chute or conduit; Fig. i is an enlarged longitudinal scctional view showing the construction of the maceratin scraper employed in the apparatus of Fig. 1 Fig. I) is a detail perspective view of the maccrating s-xrrapcr and its appurtenances: Fig. l; is a detail pcrspective view of a bracket which is used as a means of support for the scraper; Fig. 7 is a dctu l fragmentary horizontal sectional vim ly, 8 illustrates a modified construction wiy' zn the scraper embodies but a single sh e and the chute or conduit is not employed; Fig. 5) is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the modified scraper pmac; Fig. 10 is a rcar elevation of the modified scraper and its appurtenances; and Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view on the line l1--ll of Fig. 7

Similar characters of reference designate corresgh'uuling parts throughout the several views.

Fig. l shows cliagrammatically two sugar mills B, arranged in tandem. This number elected merely for the purposes of illustration, since the plane may include, in a tandem arrangement, any desired number of such mills. T he mills A and B may be of any desired construction, and, per 80, form no part of the invention. The drawings assume, however, a mill of customary construction, in which three rolls are employed, e. g., two lower rolls and a top roll arranged symmetrically of the lower rolls; and certain of the structural features of the apparatus forming the invention, in so far as their mere design is concerned, are spc- ,cially constructed with a view to moperatwu with the usual threeroll mill.

For the purpose of illustration, the drawings show the discharge side of the mill A and the feed side of the mill B.

The maceration sci-a 'icr is arranged in relation to the mill A and uhown in Fig. 1, comprises a pair of shoes 2 and 3, Whirl) are similar in construction, the shoe [being arranged adjacent the top roll (i. and the shoe 3 being similarly arranged adjacent the lower d scharge r il L,

The shoes *2 and l are arranged trans Yerscly of the imli and are su stantially cothe working fares of the rolls extei'lsire wit h which they closely adjoin and parallel. In the preferred construction shown, each shoe includes a casting 4 having a toe piece 5 projecting toward the adjoining! mill roll, and a chamber 1" located beyond said toepiece. The toe piece 5 has its outer face beveled near its outer edge to conform to the curvature, of the roll which it adjoins, and also provided with grooves 7, as shown in Fig. 5, to match with the usual peripheral grooves of said roll. The toe pieces 5 have flat or regular inn r faces which define a discharge way 8 for the stream of bagasse ejected by the mill, Beyond the toe pieces 5 this discharge may continued by the provision of flat plate 9 which adjoin the chambers U and are secured by bolt and nut fastenii-igs 10 against the inner faces of the astings 4-. The bolt h ads which engage the plates 9 are omntermlnk. so as to present no obstruction to tie; flowing stream of bagasr'e. The ilaies 9 form the inner walls of the cl'mmliers ti, which are provided to eii'ect the unifoi in dist ibution and delivery of a volume of water into the bagasse. The castinns 4- are torn'icd with internal shoulders ll at the junction of the toe pieces and the rhamiww fl, and the plates 5) terminate short of said shoulders, thus providing passages 3L through which water discharges from the cham e s J- into the space between said plates, The .fwllfll l have their tan-es so curv d or incline-d as to b lt the water rearwardly into the stream or' bafgasse, (1', c. t di l' travel of :lli Len-run), stream of ,t lc to th propnlsi-tm of a and 7), and also being favorable to the thorough permeation of the bag-asse by the water. Each casting 4. is provided with a. suitable water inlet connection or connections 13. Preferably two water inlet connections are employed, as shown. For the purpose of reinforcement, the castings are provided with a row of ln s 14, suitably spaced from one another, which lugs extend to the plates 9 and are located slightly in advance of the passages 12. The lugs 14 provide a plurality of ducts through which the inner portions of the chamber 6 communicate with the passages 12 and the latter are of relatively narrow dimensions so as to deliver the water with considerable force and in a thin but wide sheet into the baga'sse. The water entering the chambers 6 is thus sulu ivided by the lugs 14 into a plurality of streams and is, therefore, uniformly distributed throughout the extent of the passages 1; and hence uniformly distributed i'zhrougzhoct the width of the passing stream of bagasso,

The stream of bagasse which discharges from the mill is subject to mechanical compression in the chamber 8 and for this purpose said chamber must be closed at its ends. The top roll of the sugar mills is usually provided with end flanges a. The scrapers. as above stated, are coextensive with the working facesof the rolls and their toe pieces 5 project between the flanges u whereby said flanges constitute end closures for a portion of the passage 8. To completely close the ends of said passage, side plates 15 are employed and said side plates are formed with curved edges 16 which conformably lit against the flanges a, and adjacent the passage S are beveled off as at 17 so as to present no obstruction to the stream of bagasse ejected by, the mill. The side plates 15 are formed to project beyond and to overlie the ends ol the loweizdischarge roll 7). Any suitable means may be employed for supporting the scrapers.

In the preferred form of the invention, and in consideration of the movement of the scrapers relatively to one another in accordance with the floating or rising and falling. action of the top roll, the support for the scrapers comprises transverse bars 18 secured to the outer faces of the plates 9 beyond the castings and having their ends, which project beyond said plates, fitted in angle brackets 19, which latter are suitably connected to the mill housings or head stocks of the machine. The bars 18 have a square cross section and at their ends are formed with trunnions 20 which engage in bearing openings 21 in the side members of the angle brackets 19. The bars 18 are thus pivotally movable about their longitudinal axes, for the purpose ef providing for adjustments of the spac ng of the scrapers rela- 4 mamas To Qfil such adiusiw tively to one mmtheir. r

feed. on film end Ma'- ments, arms are in; Moms of sald baits mi therefrom, Si'ilil arm square upeni. cr ns-secti m which said lm'rs arms are relatively to ha nut 25 may by gethm' or to pm which cuss,

u m 'i" :ipni'l Em his? 'LUi'a'al very sligl'ii cxteiza nected to film i),l2" idly C0]1I1PC-t(l to we castings; 5} currespwniling Il(l Ll-'l175 'iii% Lively Ln mm :mnlis 1', saw: the vertiml (llHPP'LHE 4f The inherent wail be i'elicil an iv upper shun with rises and fall: (ions in Has lmgusso. llxpnnwm Villl pi'ir ever, he :u'rnu vanilla! the in 1M fur iliis purpose, ii. trivia i--". in particular mm should prm e "lvrriz'ziliiv. lav w Tl. \ill l1:- (ilismvwi f'luii ilm iliif illfli H i? defined partly by in: mipkmics: 5 and partly A by (he plutvs; i? v hii ll Tali-:1 haw gummy illili' imgli i 3:1 spacing than Hill; plasma kHlil that. t w wr'll l w Am up hil Mange, anal into tlw l Win-n tin: m tw' is 1 1% rwhii-limw fr! in the rownf ,mM

Muimn Ward angle of inclination. The passage 8 is, therefore, directed rearwardly and upwardly, and the chute 26 is of curved form in order that the transmission from the up ward to the downward-direction of travel may be -gradual. By so forming the chute,

the ejecting power of the mill A is amply suilicien't for the purposes in view since friction due to'the angular direction of travel of the. bagasse is minimized and the 3 load against which; said ejecting powerworks (being a fractionalpart of the weight of that'portion of the bagasse which is in the passage 8 and the upwardly directedfon.

ward end'of the chute) is relatively small.

The water which is delivered to the bagasse' actsasa lubricant in the chute and thus facilitates the passage of the bagasse through the chute. Thebagasse is readily the lower feed roll.

The walls of the chute 26 can advanta geously be'made of sheet metal of requisite gage, suitably reinforced to withstand the internal pressure by angle iron bars orequivalent means. 7 v

The angle bracketslfi) which support the shoes of the macerating scraper also support the front end of thechute, asis obvious. For the support of the rear end of. the chute angle brackets 37, connected to the housing or head stocks of the mill B and to the walls 29 of the chute, maybe employed.

The walls 29 of the chute are formed at their rear ends jwith curved edges 38 which conform to the curvature of the end flanges (1' of the top roll of the mill B and closely fit said flanges. Said walls are also formed at their rear ends to overlie the ends of the feed roll of said mill.

Figs. 8 tolO show a modified construction wherein the macerating scraper comprises butone shoe and the chute or conduit 26 is not employed. In this case the scraper includes a toe piece 5, a chamber 6' and a comression plate 9 arranged under said chamlier. The under faces of the toe piece and compression plate cbnform generally to the curvature of the lower discharge roll. b but are preferably so directed that the compression passagefi between'said under faces and the discharge roll flares toward its discharge end. Moreover, "the curved under face of the compression plate 9 is offset from the under face of the toe'piece to provide for an abrupt enlargement of the compression space and a consequent abrupt but slight reduction of pressure on the bagasse, The chamber 6 communicates with the passage 8 by means of a relatively narrow passage 12 which directs the water rearwardly, i. e., in the direc tion of travel of the bagasse and coincides with the point of abrupt enlargement of the p'assage'8 as above explained.

The scraper is supported by means of arms 38 which are keyed on a transverse shaft 39- 'journaledin bearings carried byfthe mill housing. The shaft 39 is provided with arms 40 which extend atan angle to the arms 38 and have their outer ends connected to adjusting links 41, in turn connected to the mill housing. The links 41 include turnbuckles 42 which may be operated in the well known manner to lengthen or shorten said links and to correspondingly rotate the shaft 39 and move the scraper upwardly or downwardlyas the case may .be, accordingly as the mechanical pressure on the bagasse is to be decreased or increased. j t

The chamber 6 is preferably made in two.

divisions separated by a centralpartition 6",

each division having its water inlet connec-' 'tion 18. In this modified constructibn provision may be made i or regulating the efiective capacity of the passagelfil Forthis purpose valves 43 are arranged inzeacli division of the chamber 6?, said =valves-bein slidably mounted upon the bottom of said ham-. her and being operated by stems 44 which are 7 threaded through the rear wall of the chamher 6 and are provided with lock nuts 45,

The toe piece, compression plate, and to wall sections (3 of the chamber 6* are pre erably made as separate parts and arose cured to the adjoining walls of the cha'mber- 6 by fastening screwsor other means. The top wall sections 6 may, as shown, he formed integral with the arms 38."

For transferring the bagasse to the succeeding mill the usual belt conveyer C may -be employed, as 'shown, in which case the bagasse will be deposited upon said belt by the lower discharge roll I) otthe mill. The side frame members of the conveyer C may be provided with extensions 46 which fit against the flanges a of the top roll aand .close the ends of the passage 8to exclude air from said passage or other means suitable for this purpose may be employed.

The chute or conduit 26 is herein disclosed in combination with a scraper which comprises a pair of macerating'shoes. It'will be understood, however, that said chute onconf duit maybe employed in combinati'on'with a. scraper which comprises but one 'macerating shoe, the changes involved in effecting this combination being merely colorable variations in design.

'tion herein contained is intended to-impose any limitation upon the scope. of the appended claims not inherent in the language thereof.

Having fully described my invention, I

claim:'

1. The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper including a shoe arrangedadjacent the discharge side of the 10 mill to define a passage through which the bagasse travels and to subject the bagasse issuin from the mill to mechanical pressure, and means for delivering water into the bagasse as it travels through said passage. I

2.1The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scra er including a shoe arranged adacent the discharge side of the mill to de ne a passage through which the. bagasse travels and to subject. the bagasse issuing from the mill to mechanical pressure, means for delivering water into the bagasse as it travels through said passage,

andnlcans adjacent the ends of said shoe :5 for closing the ends of said passage.

'- 3.'The. combination with a sugar mill of a maceratingscraper including a shoe arranged adjacent the discharge side of the mill and having a toe piece which projects 80 into-the discharge way of the mill and a water, distribution chamber in the rear of the toe piece provided with a water inlet connection and a water discharge passage, .theshoe defining a passa' e through WlllCll the bagasse' travels an subjecting the bagasse as it is discharged by the mill to mechanical pressure, the water discharge passage communicating with the passage through which the bagasse travels.

4p 4. The combination with a sugar mill of a inacerating scraper including a shoe arranged adjacent the discharge side of the mill and having a toe piece' which projects into the discharge way of the mill and a 46 Water distribution chamber in the rear of the toe' piece rovided with a waterfinlet connection an a water discharge passage, the. shoedefining a passage through which the bagasse travels'l and subjecting .the bagasse as it is discharged by the mill to mechanical pressure, the water discharge passage communicating with the passage through which the bagasse travels and being arranged to deliver the water into the I56 bagasse in thedirection of the travel thereof.

filf 'l he combination with a sugar mill of 1a macerating scraper including a shoe arranged adjacent t e discharge side of the t9 mill and having'a toe piece which projects ifitdthe-discharge way of the mill and a water distribution chamber in the rear of the'toe' piece provided with a water inlet connection and a water discharge passage,

db the shoe defining a passage through which the bagasse travels, and subjecting the bagasse as it is discharged by the mill to mechanical pressure, that portion of the bagasse passage which is defined by the toe piece being narrower than the rest 05 said passage, the water discharge passage communicating with the passage through which the bagasse travels at a point immediately in the rear of the toe piece; 'I

6. The combination with a sugar mill of 7 a macerating scraper including a shoe arranged adjacent the discharge side of the mill and having a toe pi e which rejects into the discharge way of. the mill and a water distribution chamber in the rear of the toe piece provided with a water inlet connection and a watemdischarge passage, the shoe defining a passage through. which.

the bagassc travels, andf subjecting the hagasse as it is discharged? 'hy the mill to mechanical pressure, that ition of the bagasse passage which. is do med by the toe piece being narrower thantthe said passage, the water discharge passage communicating with the passage through which 93 the bagasse travels at a point immediately in the rear of the toe piece, and being. an, ranged to deliver water into thefhagasse in the direction of the travel thereof.

7. The combination .with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper 'includin a shoe arranged adjacent the discharge si e of the. mill to define a passage through which the bagasse travels-and to subjectthe bagasse issuing from the mill to mechanical pres 1: 1, sure, means for delivering water into the'; bagasse as it travels through said passe and means for adjusting -.-the..f"p'o it' theshoe. 8. The combination with 'a'isu a macerating scraper. including ranged adjacent the...discharge" p mill and comprising a casting1-which. is formed wi h a toe piece to project, into the discharge way of the inilliand with a water distribution chamber iu-jthe rear of the toe.

gar"

. piece, provided-with awn-er jinletconnec tion, and a plate wcured tc'siiidcasting in .the rear of the toe piece'and forming the" base of said chamber, the casting having an 5 internal shoulder between the chamberand the toe piece and the. plate being spaced from said shoulder to providea passageimmediately in therear of "the :toe piece through which water-dischargesfrom t chamber, the shoe.-- defining a pass through which the hagasse trai and Sll jecting the bagassc as it disc rg-gr d by the mill to mechanical prc are, t water discharge passage commi'm'lcat ngxvi..- the passage through'which the hagasse travels. 9. The ..coml ination with a sugar mil; of a macerating scraper including shoe arranged adjacent the discharge side of .the I mill and comprisin a casting which is 13c formed with a toe piece to project into the discharge way of the mill and with a water distribution chamber in the rear of the toe piece, provided with a water inlet connection, a plate secured to said casting in the rear of the toe piece and forming the base of said chamber, the casting having an-internal shoulder between the chamber and the toe piece and the plate being spaced from said shoulder to provide a passage immediately in the rear of the toe piece through which water discharges from the chamber, the shoe defining a passage through which the bagasse travels and subjecting' the bagasse as it isdischarged by the mill to mechanical pressure, the water discharge passage communicating with the passage through which the bagasse travels, and a row of lugs arran ed in the chamber and extending to the p ate, the lugs reinforcing the casting and defining a plurality of ducts through which the chamber communicates with the water discharge passage.

10. The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper including a shoe arranged adjacent the discharge side of the mill and comprising a casting which is formed with a toe piece to project into the discharge way of the mill and with a water distributionchamber in the rear of the toe piece, provided with a water inlet connection, a plate secured to said casting in the rear of the toe piece and forming the base of said chamber, the casting having an internal shoulder between the chamber and the toe piece and the plate being spaced from said shoulder to provide a passage immediately in the rear of the toe piece through which water discharges from the chamber, the shoe defining a passage through which the hagiisse travels and subjecting the bagasse as it is discharged by the mill to mechanical pressure, the water discharge passage communicating with the passa e through which the hagasse travels,

the p ate projecting rea'rwardly beyond the casting, and a rotatablv mounted bar which supports the shoe am to which the rearwardly projecting portion of the plate is secured. 7

ll. The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper including a pair o f shoes arranged to projectinto the discharge way of the mill to define a passage through which the bagasse travels and to mechanicall compress the bagasse, one of the shoes having a water distributing chamber and a water discharge plumage leading from said chamber into the passage for the bagasse.

12. The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper including a pair of shoes arranged 0- project into the discharge way of the mill to define a passage through which the bagasse travels and to mechanically compress the bagasse, each of the shoes having a water distributing chamber and a water discharging passage leadinfrom. said chamber into the passage or the bagasse whereby water is forced into the bagasse at opposite sides thereof.

13. The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper including a pair of shoes arranged to project into the discharge way of the mill to define a passage througbf which the bagassc travels and to mechnni: cally compress the bagasse, each of the showhaving: a toe piece, a water distributing chamber in the rear of the toe piece and a. water discharge passage leading from the chamber at a point immediately in the rear of the toe piece into the passage for the hagasse, the said bagasse passage having less width between thetoe pieces and greater width between the bases of the water dis tributing chambers.

14. The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper including a pair of shoes arranged to project into the discharge way of the mill to define a passage through which the bagasse travels and to r'nechanically compress the hagasse, each of the shoes having a water distributing chamber and L Water discharge paasage leading from said chamber into the passage For the and an adjustable IHQMIS of support for one of the shoes whereby the position thereof relative to the other shoe may be varied,

15. The combination with a sugar mill of, a macerating scraper including a pairof shoes arranged to project into the discharge" way oi the mill to-define a passage through which the hagasse travels and to mechanis. I call compress the bagasse, each of the shoes having a water distributing chamber and a? water discharge passage leading from Said chamber into the passage for the bagasse and parallel rotatahly nounted bars by. which the shoes are respectively supported.

16. The combination; with successive sugar mills of a macerating scraper including a shoe arranged adjacenti-he discharge side of the first mill, the shoe defining a passage through which the bagasse travels and subjecting the bagasse. to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill, and means for delivering water into the, hagasse passage; and a closed chute which-forms a continuation of the passage and discharges the hagasse into the receiving side of the second mill.

1?. The combination with successive sugar mills of a macerating scraper including a pair of shoes arranged adj cut the dis charge side of the first mill to define a pas sage through which the biwassc travels and to subject thev lnigasse to seer-hen 'l pres sure as it is illb(fll:\l'.{fl by the .li, and

charges the inlo r1. :eiving side of the second mill.

1?}. The combination succes' sugar mills of a mac-crating scraper including ii '1 of shoes arranged adjacent the dis charge side of the first mill to define a pasthrough which the travels and to subject the hagasse to mechanical c it. is discharged by i-lic mill, and moons for delivering Wzilcr into the hsgasse passage; and :1 closed chute which forms a continuation of the bagasse passage and disthe hagasse into the rcceivi side or the second mill the bagasse gm xigc "ceing upwma ll directed and the chute being of curved. form and being unwiia lly directed for an initial portion of its length and downwardly dircc't iil for the rest of its i'lgi-h.

373. The cor hinstion wil-h succci ve sugar mills of ii lllflfi il'lltlfig scraper including a shoe arranged adjacent the discharge side of tho first ill, the shoe defining a passage through which ths bugssse tra els and col iccting the hii msse to mechanical pressure as ii is d hsrg'cd by the mill, and means for delivering water into the. hagnsse pasand a chute which forms a coniainuw ticn of the biigusse passage and ilischarges the bsgusse into tho receiving side of the second mill.

20. The ccm' ntiou with Sl1CQjI\"lV8SUg2ET mills of a inaccruting scraper including a pair of shoes arranged adjacent the discharge side of first mill to define a passage through which the bugassctravels and to subject. the to mechanical prossure: it d "Largsd by the mill, and means for deli; 11;; Water into the bagasse p g0; and "a 4 lo which forms a continuation the lm passage and discharges he bagasssc 5m, lhc side of scconrl mill. the hzigssse as I being 1313-- Wzlril v direct-ed in being of curwu 'l'ormhncl being upv. ll for an portion of its lei; in anddownwardly il'ircctczl for lhc res: of its length.

2 Tlac combinsiion with successive sugar mills of a niece-mung scraper including a shoe arranged the discharge side of the first mill. the shoe defining a passage through which the bagesse travels and subjecting thebagasse to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill, and means for delivering into the passage; and closed chutcwhich forms a continuation of the b8isssfgvassage and disolmrgcs the liagasfic also "the rccciiing side of the second mill lhc chute ha-ving extended side Walls iiIiilllZYlllg s top wall ad-- justshlc between said side will to vary the r: of its intcrizsl space,

com ins-don with successive sugar mills of a mac-smiling scraper including a pair of arranged adjacent the discharge side of the first mill to define a. pas

sage through which the bagasse travels and to subject the bagasse to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill and means for delivering water into the bag-asse passage; rotatably mounted bars by which the shoes are supported; and aclosed chute which forms continuation of the bagasse 1 mills of a msccrziting scraper including a pair of shoes arranged adjacent the discharge side of the first mill to define a passagc through which the b-tigasse travels and to subject the imgasse to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill, and means for delivering water into the bsgassc passage; a closed chute which forms a continuation of the bzigasie passage and discharges the l'vagssse into the receiving side of the second mill and side plates arranged at the ends of the bagasse passage to close. the

same and having extensions which adjoin and overlap the sidewalls of the chute.

2%. The combination with a Sugar mill of a, mcceruting scraper including n pair of shoes arranged to project into the discharge way of the mill to define a passage through which the bagasse travels andto mechanically compress the bagasse, one of theshoes having a water distributing chambervand a water discharge passage leading from said. chamber into the passugefor the bagasse, and means for adjusting the position of the shoes relatively to one soother.

2.). The combination with a sugar millof a macaw-sting scraper including a pair of shocsnrmngcd in project into the discharge Wu of the mill to define a passage through which the bagasse travels and to mechahi cally compress the bugasse, each of the shoes having a water distributing chamber and a water lischarg passage leading from said chambir into passage for the bagasse, and means for adjusting "(be position of the shoes relatively to one another.

26. Tho 1 anl izistion with a, sugar mill of a inaccratiu scraper including a' pair of shoes arranged to 'irojscv into the discharge 1 way of the-mill to define a passage through shoes arranged to project into the discharge/ way of the mill to define a passage through which the bagasss travels and to mech mi:

cally compress the bagasse, and means for adjusting the position of the shoes relatively to one another.

28. The combination with a sugar mill of means for mechanically compressing the bagasse as it issues from the discharge side of the mill, and means for delivering water into the bagasse during the period of compression.

29. The combination with a sugar mill of means for mechanically compressing the bagasse as it issues from the discharge side of the mill, means coacting with said firstna'med means to exclude air from the bagasse during its compression, and means for delivering water into the bagasse during the period of compression.

30. The combination with a sugar mill. 0t means for mechanically compressing the bagasse as it issues from the discharge side of the mill, means for delivering water into the bagasse during the period of compression, and means for varying the position of said first-named means in accordance with variations in the thickness of the stream of bagasse.

31; The combination with successive sugar mills of a macerating scraper including a shoe arranged adjacent the discharge side of the first mill, the shoe defining a passage through which the bagasse travels and subjecting the bagasse to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill, and a "chute which forms a continuation of the bagasse passage and discharges the bagasse into the receiving side of the second mill, the bagasse passage being upwardl directed and the chute being of curved orm and being upwardly directed for an initial portion of its length and downwardly directed for the rest of its length.

32. The combination with a sugar mill of a macerating scraper including a pair of cooperating shoes arranged adjacent the discharge side of said mill, the shoes defining a passage through which the bagasse travels and subjecting the bagasse to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill, and means for delivering water iipon the bagasse compressed by thescraper.

33'. The combination with successive sugar mills of amacerating scraper including a pair of shoes arranged adjacent the discharge side of the first mill, the shoes defining a passage through which the bagasse travels and subjecting the bagasse to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill, means for delivering water upon the V bagasse compressed by the scraper, and a chute which forms a continuat on of the bagasse passage and discharges the bagasse into the receiving side of the second mill.

34. The combination with successive sugar mills of a macerating scraper including a pair of shoes arranged adjacent the dis charge side of the first mill, the shoes definmg a passage through which the bagasse travels and subjecting the bagasse to mechanical pressure as it is discharged by the mill, means for delivering water upon the bagasse compressed by the scraper, and. a, chute/which form a continuation of the bagasse passage and discharges the bagasse into the-receiving side of the second mill, the

bagasse passage being upwardly directed 

